Thailand Unveils $80B Semiconductor Strategy Through 2050
Thailand has approved its first national semiconductor and advanced electronics strategy, setting a long-term target of around $80 billion in cumulative investment and more than 230,000 new jobs by 2050. The strategy is designed to build a more complete domestic chip ecosystem spanning research, design, manufacturing, advanced packaging and testing.
Approved by Thailand’s National Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy Board, the roadmap is part of the country’s “Made in Thailand” chip initiative. It is intended to strengthen existing semiconductor capabilities while attracting investment into higher-value areas of the global supply chain.
Three-Phase Semiconductor Roadmap
Thailand’s strategy will be implemented in three phases. By 2030, the country plans to strengthen its existing assembly and testing capabilities, expand advanced packaging and establish the foundations for front-end wafer production.
By 2040, the strategy targets greater investment in upstream activities including chip design, wafer fabrication and advanced manufacturing. By 2050, Thailand aims to establish a more complete domestic semiconductor supply chain, with local companies taking larger roles within the industry.
Photonics, Power Chips and Sensors Prioritized
The strategy identifies three technology areas as priorities: photonics, power semiconductors and sensors.
Photonics will support applications including AI infrastructure, data centers and high-speed communications. Power semiconductors will target electric vehicles, energy storage and power grids, while sensor development will build on Thailand’s existing MEMS capabilities for automotive, connected devices, automation and medical applications.
Workforce Development Gets Major Focus
Talent development is another major component of the plan. Thailand has set a target of developing 86,600 people by 2030, including around 84,900 highly skilled workers and 1,700 advanced researchers.
The programme will involve universities, research institutions and industry partners through specialised courses, industry placements, overseas training and development programmes for researchers and instructors.
Incentives to Attract Semiconductor Investment
The government plans to support the strategy through tax incentives, grants, low-interest financing, research infrastructure and industrial facilities, alongside regulatory reforms.
Thailand’s Board of Investment said investment-promotion applications between 2023 and the first half of 2026 covered 879 projects worth about 909 billion baht ($27.2 billion). These figures represent applications rather than capital already deployed.
The new strategy gives Thailand a structured roadmap for expanding from its established semiconductor assembly and testing base toward chip design, wafer fabrication and advanced electronics over the next two decades.
